Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In my experience, local authority housing evictions are not very rare. Even as we speak, there are many Traveller families being evicted. This is the harsh reality for Travellers. I do not mean to sound in any way disrespectful to the Minister of State and it is not personally meant, but I am here and I know exactly what I am talking about. The Civil Engagement Group worked really hard over the last week with the Irish Traveller Movement. We did not do it by ourselves but worked alongside other organisations to protect Travellers with this eviction Bill. Unfortunately, we are not holding the State to account. Nobody is being held to account for the situation Travellers are in and that is the harsh reality. The amendments I put forward, and those of the Civil Engagement group, are not being accepted. It is genuine State discrimination. Members of this House and the Dáil should be ashamed of themselves for not protecting the most vulnerable people in Irish society when it comes to accommodation. Once again we are left behind but I will keep standing up and speaking up in this House because I do not have a choice. The Minister says that accommodation under local authorities is secure. Local authorities are not held to account. What we could have done, and what was the right thing to do, was to name it and to accept amendment No. 2 in order to protect members of the Traveller community during the winter. Again, we are just thrown aside and it is all fine because nobody is held to account. I will be up to speak on our next amendment as well.